PUCHONG: The Public Works Department is working to establish permanent disaster evacuation halls within school compounds.
Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said the project will be managed by the National Disaster Management Agency, with funding provided through the National Disaster Relief Trust Fund.
"Currently, there are eight such projects, two of which are already under construction at SK Seri Medan in Batu Pahat, Johor, and SK Gual Tinggi in Pasir Mas, Kelantan," he said at a press conference following a visit to the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (Smart) simulation site in Pulau Meranti here today.
Ahmad added that the remaining six projects were in the planning stage.
The six projects involve SK Banggol Peradong in Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu; SK Benta in Kuala Lipis, Pahang; SK Perwira in Teluk Intan, Perak; SK Machang Bubok in Bukit Mertajam, Penang; SMK Jerai in Kupang, Kedah; and, SK Sungai Kelamah (RKTP) in Tampin, Negri Sembilan.
Meanwhile, Smart commander Mohd Khairul Jamil said the team was seeking approval for the construction of a water rescue simulation pool.
He said the addition was necessary to enhance training capabilities and will comply with international standards set by the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (Insarag).
Insarag is an organisation under the United Nations that coordinates international rescue operations for cross-border disaster relief.
On the cost of the pool's construction, Khairul said it was still in the application stage and the budget had not yet been finalised.
Earlier, Ahmad said the Smart simulation site is set to be completed in February next year.
He said this would be the first disaster simulation centre in Malaysia and the second in Asean after Singapore.